Carbureter.



UNITED STATES Patented october 1s, 1904Y PATENT l OEEICE.

ANDERS AKESON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE ATLAS LIGHT &POWER COMPANY, OFv BOSTON, MASSACHU- SETTS.

oAmanuari'reFi.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 772,551, dated October18, 1904.

Application filed April 14, 1904.

To all whom it may concern/:I

Be it known that I, ANDERS AKEsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing atl the city of Boston, in the county of Suiolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain vnew and useful Improvements inCarbureters, of Which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the classof carbureters and is an'apparatusarranged to receive from a proper source compressed air and to scribed,and specificallyset forth in the claims.

In the accompanying sheet of draWings,Fig ure 1 represents a view of myimproved carbureter as seen partly in elevation and partly in centralvertical section. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the wire basketcontaining sponges and the means of suspending it within the carbureter.Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the mass of spongesand wicking securedtogether by wires and used in generating the carbureted air from thenaphtha or gasolene in the lower part of the generator.

Like numerals indicate like parts in the different views of thedrawings.

In Fig. 1 is shown a carbureter connected by a pipe. The carbureterconsists of a metallic receptacle of proper dimensions, preferablycylindrical in shape, and comprising the tubular portion 1, the dome2,'and the bottom 3, ,the same being provided with flanges and rivetedtogether, as plainly illustrated in Fig. 1. A series of Lshaped brackets4 are secured to the tubular portion 1, and on the inner side thereof,by means of rivets 5 or otherwise, and upon these brackets rests acircular piece 6, of Wire-gauze, having a central opening or aperture.,lAcollar 7, having a Serial No. 203,202. (No model.)

- vertical annular flange, lies upon the piece of wire-gauze 6, andbolts 8 pass through the collar 7, wiregauze 6, and brackets 4, and sohold the said wire-gauze securely in position.

This piece 6, of wire-gauze, constitutes a hori- Zontal partition and islocated above the bottom 3 of the carbureter, but parallel to it. Itthus divides the carbureter into two compartments, the lower one ofwhich contains a suitable quantity of naphtha, gasolene, or other fluidhydrocarbon, as seen in Fig. 1. A T- shaped coupling 9 has the 'threepipes 10, 11, and 12 connected thereto. The pipe 11 extends through aboss 13, which is perforated to allow its passage, andan elbow-coupling1A lits on the inner end of the pipe 11. A downwardly-extending pipe 15has its upper end fitted in the elbow-coupling 111, and its lower end issubmerged, as shown in Fig. 1.

N aphtha, gasolene, or other suitable iiuid hydrocarbon is fed in properquantities and at proper intervals through the pipe 12 and iiows intothe lower compartment of the carbureter through the pipes 11 and 15.

Compressed air from any suitable source flows through the Vpipes 10, 11,and 15 under pressure.

On the top of the partition 6 of wire-gauze of the Wire-gauze partition6, as'shownin Fig. 1) and dip into the liquid hydrocarbon. Under thedome 2 in the upper compartment of the carbureter is suspended a wirebasket or cage 20, filled with pieces 21 of dry sponge. This wire basketis shown in perspective in Fig. 2, where it is seen that it has acircular slightly-dished cover 22, furnished with loops or eyes on itsedge, to which the Wires are fastened. A tube 23, whose exterior osurface is screw-threaded, is mounted on the cover 22 and passes throughsaid cover. A nut 24, engaging with the tube 23 on the outside thereof,serves to draw the upper surface of the cover Q2 up into snug contactwith the under surface of the dome Q, as shown in Fig. 1.

A pressure-gage 25 is mounted as usual on a pipe 26, which extends upfrom the pressure-gage chamber 27. A valve 28 is provided for tlie pipe26. The chamber 27 has an annular flange 29 and is fastened by bolts 30,through the flanges 29, to the exterior of the dome 2. There is a pipeconnection from the carbureter to the gasometer consisting of thepipes31, 32, 33, 34,and 35, the elbow-couplings 38 and 39, and thefiltering-chamber 41. A valve 42 is between the pipes 31 and 3Q.

Having thus described the parts and construction of my improvedgas-machine, I will now explain its mechanical principle and mode ofoperation.

In order to obtain a flow of carbureted air foi-illuminating purposes,itis necessary that there should be atank or supply of compressed airentering through the pipe 10 with sufficient pressure to force itthrough the several liltering-compartments and pipes and to dischargefrom the gasometer. (Not shown.) In this passage of the compressed airthrough this machine it is mingled and charged to its utmost capacitywith hydrocarbon vapor, and is thus changed into carbureted air capableof giving a strong' and intense light. Instead, however, of usingcompressed air for this purpose and providing means of pressing anddischarging the same (which means are not shown in the drawings, but areunderstood to be any of the well-known means for that purpose) itisobvious that common illuminating-gas from the street-main may enterunder its usual pressure into the pipe 10 and in traversing the severalcompartments of my machine and the pipes thereof may be carbureted orhighly en riched in carbon, and may therefore burn with greaterintensity and increased candle-power. The carbureting compound is anysuitable fluid hydrocarbon, preferably a petroleum product, such asnaphtha or gasolene, which is fed through the pipe 12 by any suitablemeans (not shown) and Hows into the tank 1 to a considerable depth, asillustrated in Fig. 1. This liquid and the compressed air are dischargedinto the lower compartment, as shown, by the submerged pipe 15, so thatthe compressed air bubbles up through said liquid and is saturated withit. The loose ends of the many pieces 18 of cotton wicking which, asshown, are dipped or floating in the naphtha or gasolene are completelysaturated thereby and convey the same by capillary attraction to themass of sponge 1G, in which said strands of wicking 18 are embedded, andthus keep saidmass of sponge 16 moist with said liquid hydrocarbon. Thusthe compressed air after being' bubbled up through the naphtha orgasolene and becomingcharged therewith passes up through this moist massof sponge 1G into the upper compartment of the carlmreter and in sopassing is charged to its utmost capacity with the hydrocarbon vapors.This sponge mass is peculiarly adapted to facilitate the volatilizationol the hydrocarbon, as this material is exceedingly porous in itsnature, readily absorbing moisture, and dividing and separating it, thusgreatly increasing the area of exposure to the air. ln this manner thehydrocarbon is vaporized and effectively changed into an aeri formcondition and as such lills the upper compartment of the carbureter; butthis vapor, though highly inliammable, requires condensation and muchfiltration in order to become a suitable illuminant. These results areaccomplished in my machine as follows: The only outlet ol the carbureteris thepipe 23; but the vapors must lirst pass through the mass of drysponges contained in the wire basket or cage Q0. These sponges 21, beingfull of pores both large and small, strain out from the vapor passingthrough them any excess of moisture and tend to make the carbureted airnot only drier but more finely divided or liner.

I claim as a novel and useful invention and desire to secure by LettersPatentm 1. In a carbureter, the combination of a closed tank dividedinto two eompartn'ien ts by a screen or perforated partition and adaptedto receive and hold in its lower compartment a liquid hydrocarbon and anaeriform lluid under pressure; a layer of sponges upon the screen orpartition in the upper compartment; and a mass of wicking connected toand extending down loosely from said layer of sponges with the ends ofsaid wiekings submerged in said liquid hydrocarbon in the lowercompartment, substantially as speeilied.

2. In a carbureter, the combination of a receptacle; a mass of spongessupported therein and a mass of wiekings connected to and extending fromthe mass of sponges, substantially as shown and for the purposespecified.

3. In a carbureter, the combination of a receptacle; a perforated screenor partition therein; a mass of sponges upon said screen or partition; awire-netting adapted to conline and fasten said mass of sponges upon thescreen or partition; and a mass of wickings secured to themass ofsponges with their ends hanging loosely therefrom, substantially asspecified.

4. In a carbureter, the combination of a earbureter; a horizontal screenor perforated partition mounted therein and having a central ring; amass of sponge upon said screen or partition; and a mass of wicksconnected to said mass of sponge and having their loose ends protrudingdown through said ring, substantially as specified.

5. In a carbureter, the combination ol a` closed tank; ahorizontalscreen or perforated IOO partition mounted therein and .having a centralring; a mass of sponge upon said screen or partition; a wire-nettingsecuring said mass of sponge to the screen or partition; and a mass ofwicks held to 'said mass of sponge by said wire-netting and having theirloose ends protruding down through said ring, substantially asspecified.

6. In a carbureter, the combination of a disk having a central aperture;a tube fitting into said aperture; a basket composed of wirenettingsecured to the edge of said disk; and a mass of Sponges contained insaid basket, substantially as specified.

7. In a carbureter, the combination of a closed tank having threecompartments; a horizontal screen or partition mounted therein anddividing the lowest compartment from the middle compartment;a'supply-pipe entering the lowest compartment and adapted to dischargetherein an aeriform fiuid under pressure and a liquid hydrocarbon; amass of sponge in the middle compartment resting on said screen orpartition; a mass of wicks connected tothe mass of sponge and havingtheir loose ends protruding through s'aid screen or partition andextending into said lowest compartment; and an upper compartment in thetop of said tank comprising a disk with a central outlet-pipe; a basketof wire-netting attached to the edge of said disk; and a mass of drysponge contained in said basket, substantially as specified.

8. In a carbureter, the combination of a closed tank having an outlet atits upper end; a mass of Sponges supported in position in or near thebottom of the tank; means adapted to saturate said Sponges with a liquidhydrocarbon; means for supplying said tank with an aeriform fluid underpressure; a wire basket supported-in the upper part of the tank with aninterval of space between it andv said mass of saturated Sponges; and amass of dry sponges contained in said basket, substantially asspecified.

9. In 'a carbureter, the combination of a closed tank having a dome witha vertical ap-l erture; a curved disk havinga central screw-- threadedaperture and fitting the central part of the dome on the inner surfacethereof; a tube having exterior screw-threads and erigaged thereby withthe central apertureof said disk; a basket of wire-netting fastened toVthe disk on the edge thereof; a mass of sponge contained in said basket;and a nut fitting upon the outer end of said tube and being in convtactwith the exterior surface of said dome at the center thereof,substantially as specified. 10. In a carbureter, ythe combination ofaclosed tank having a domewith a central aperture; a curved disk havingva central screw-` threaded aperture and fitting the central part of thedome on the inner surface thereof; a tube having exterior screw-threadsand engaged thereby with the central'aperture of said disk; a basket ofwire-netting fastened to the disk on the edge thereof; a 4mass of spongecontained in said basket; a nut fitting on the outer end of said tubeand adapted to hold said disk in snug contact with the inner side of thedome; and a chamber on the exterior of said dome into which said tubeopens, l

contained in said basket; a nut tting on the outer end of said tube andadapted to hold said disk in snug contact with the inner surface of thedome; a chamber on the exterior of said dome into which said tube opens;a pressure-gage; and apipe connecting said chamber and pressure-gage,substantially as specified.'

12. In a carbureter, the combination of a closed tank having a dome with-a central aperture; a curved disk having a central screwthreadedaperture and fitting the central part of the dome on the inner surfacethereof; a tube having exterior screw-threads and engaged thereby withthe central aperture of said disk; a basket of wire-netting fastened tothe disk on the edge thereof; a mass of sponge contained in said basket;a nutl fitting on the outer end kof said tube and adapted to hold IOOsaid disk in snug Contact with the dome; a

chamber on the exterior of said dome into which said tube opens; and anoutlet-pipe passing out of said chamber, substantially as specified.

13. In a carbureter, the combination of a closed tank divided by ahorizontal screen or perforated partition into two compartments; asupply-pipe adapted to discharge into the lower compartment a liquidhydrocarbon and an aeriform fluid .under pressure; a mass of sponge uponsaid screen or partition; a mass of wicks connected to the mass ofsponge and having their loose ends protruding through said screen`orpartition and extending down into ysaid lower compartment; a dome forsaid carbureter having a central aperture; a wire basket having acoverprovided with a central aperture; a screw-threaded tube fitting theaperture of the saidcover and the said aperture of the dome; a mass ofsponge in said basket; a nut on the said tube; a chamber on the exteriorof said dome into which said tube opens, a pipe communicating with thechamber of said dome; and a valve in the lastnamed pipe, substantiallyas specified.

14. I-n a carbureter, the combination ofl a closed tank; a closed tankdivided by a horizontal screen or perforated partition into twocompartments; a supply-pipe adapted to discharge into the lowercompartment a liquid hydrocarbon and an aeriforrn fluid under pressure;a mass of sponge upon said screen or partition; a mass of wicksconnected to the mass of sponge and having their loose ends protrudingthrough said screen or partition and extending down into said lowercompartment; a dornefor said carbureter having a central aperture; awire basket having a cover provided'with a central aperture; ascrewthreaded tube fitting the aperture of the said cover and the saidaperture or' the dome; a mass of sponge in said basket; a nut on said

